Peach tree named ‘Souvenirs’

ABSTRACT

Description and specification of a new and distinct peach tree cultivar named ‘Souvenirs’ which originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 708 (non-patented)×‘Winblo’ (non-patented) made in 2001. This new peach cultivar can be distinguished by its very firm fruit with slow-melting yellow flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium size, attractive appearance, high red skin color, excellent fruit quality, good flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

Latin name: Prunus persica.

Varietal denomination: ‘Souvenirs’.

BACKGROUND

A new cultivar of peach tree called ‘Souvenirs’ is described herein. Thenew cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 708(non-patented) (female parent)×‘Winblo’ (non-patented) (male parent)made in 2001. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridizationwere germinated in a greenhouse in the late winter 2001/early spring of2002 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruitedduring the summer of 2004 and one seedling, designated Ark. 763, wasselected for its very firm fruit with slow-melting yellow flesh,early-mid season ripening, medium size, attractive appearance, high redskin color, excellent fruit quality, good flavor, and resistance tobacterial spot disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct cultivar of peach originated from a hand-pollinatedcross of Ark. 708 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; female)×‘Winblo’(non-patented, public variety; male) made in 2001 near Clarksville, Ark.(West-Central Arkansas).

The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinatedin a greenhouse in the late winter 2001/early spring of 2002 and plantedin a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during thesummer of 2004 and one seedling, designated Ark. 763, was selected forits very firm, slow-melting yellow flesh, early-mid season ripening,medium-sized fruits, attractive appearance with high red skin color,excellent fruit quality with good flavor, and resistance to bacterialspot disease.

During 2004, the original plant selection was propagated asexually, atthe above-noted location, by budding onto standard peach rootstockcultivar ‘Lovell’ (non-patented) and a test plot of two plants wasestablished. Subsequently, larger test plantings have been establishedwith asexually multiplied plants at two additional locations in Arkansas(near Clarksville and Hope, Ark.) and at each location propagation wasby budding from buds collected at the Clarksville, Ark. test plot. Noincompatibility with ‘Lovell’ peach rootstock has occurred followingbudding. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of theoriginal plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes haveappeared.

The new cultivar has been named the ‘Souvenirs’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivarin color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of mature fruit on a tree of ‘Souvenirs’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a whole and longitudinally cut fruit of‘Souvenirs’ at maturity.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the adaxial and abaxial sides of mature‘Souvenirs’ leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘SOUVENIRS’

Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from itsparents. The new cultivar is earlier ripening, has flavor, more red skincolor, and has more resistance to bacterial spot disease compared to theparent Ark. 708. The new cultivar is different from parent ‘Winblo’ inthat it is low-acid in flavor, ripens earlier, has much firmer flesh andhas more resistance to bacterial spot disease. Both the parents and thenew cultivar are the genus and species Prunus persica.

Trees of the new cultivar are moderately vigorous, productive, standardin size, well-branched and symmetrical with an upright to semi-spreadinggrowth habit, comparable to other peach trees. Trees express a highlevel of resistance to both foliar and fruit infection of bacterial spot[Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni (Smith) Dye] but in some years do notshow complete immunity to this disease. The new cultivar blooms in thespring on approximately the same date as ‘Loring’ (non-patented) and‘White County’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,742). No winter cold injury hasbeen observed on wood or buds of the new cultivar in Arkansas testswhere minimum temperatures have reached 5° F. (15° C.) duringevaluation. Chilling requirement to break dormancy is estimated to be800 hours below 45° F. (7° C.).

Fruit of the new cultivar ripens mid-early season, averaging 14 daysbefore ‘Loring’ and 2 days after ‘Redhaven’ (non-patented) referencepeach cultivars. Average first ripening date is July 6 in west-centralArkansas (Clarksville). Fruit of the new cultivar has not been observedto have split pits, a serious fruit disorder of some peach cultivars.Fruit yields have been good and are comparable to the peach cultivar‘Winblo.’

The fruit is round in shape. Fruits are attractive with an average 90%bright red blush. Fruit finish is good with no blemishes. The fruit skinhas light pubescence. The flesh of the fruit is yellow in color and hasslight red pigment in the flesh, mostly around the stone or pit. Fleshis melting but very firm until fully mature when it softens, considereda “slow melting” type and firmer at maturity than the ‘Loring’ or‘Redhaven’ reference cultivars. The fruit is a freestone, in that theflesh does not adhere to the pit. Fruit size is medium averaging 183 g.

The fresh fruit rates excellent in flavor. Fruits average 15.3% solublesolids. The flavor is sweet and low-acid with an acidity level of 0.24%malic acid compared to ‘Redhaven’ with 0.70%.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject peach. Color data are presented in RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart designations (1986 2^(nd) edition).Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood that such characteristics are approximations ofaverages set forth as accurately as practical.

Plants used for botanical data were six years old and grown on a finesandy loam soil with trickle irrigation near Clarksville, Ark. Treeswere trained to an open-center training system and dormant prunedannually. The exception to this is that yield data was collected ontrees four years old and trained to a perpendicular V training system.Fruits on all trees were thinned to approximately 6-8 inches betweenfruits 4-5 weeks after full bloom. The trees were fertilized nearbudbreak (late March on average) with complete or nitrogen fertilizer.Weeds were controlled with pre- and postemergence herbicides. Routinecommercial fungicide and insecticide applications were made to thetrees, but no bactericides (for control of bacterial diseases such asbacterial spot disease) were applied. The descriptions reported hereinare from specimens grown near Clarksville, Ark.

-   Plant:    -   -   Size.—Mature trees (6 years of age) average 3.4 m to 3.7 m            in height and 4.8 to 5.9 m in spread or width, and a            semi-upright growth habit, as grown on ‘Lovell’ rootstock            using an open-center training system commonly used on            peaches. Tree size is comparable to that of the ‘Loring’ and            ‘Redhaven’ cultivars.        -   Growth.—Vigorous, symmetrical form, good canopy development.            Vigor comparable to that of the ‘Loring’ and ‘Redhaven’            cultivars.        -   Productivity.—Good productivity and consistent from year to            year. Crop load ratings averaged 8.5 on a 10-point scale,            higher than ‘Loring’ with a rating of 7.8. Yield measured            9.1 kg/tree in 2010, for a 2007-planted replicated trial            compared to 19.0 kg/tree for ‘White County’, and 7.1 kg/tree            for ‘Winblo’.        -   Cold hardiness.—Wood and dormant buds hardy to 5° F. (15°            C.), as this was the coldest the trees were exposed to at            the test site but hardiness may exceed this temperature.        -   Disease resistance.—Leaves and fruit resistant but not            immune to bacterial spot under growing conditions where            bacterial spot infection is often very severe on susceptible            genotypes. No bactericides were used in the development or            evaluation of the instant cultivar. Evidence of bacterial            spot infection was less than that of ‘Winblo’. A commercial            fungicide program was utilized in orchards used in the            development and evaluation of the instant cultivar, thus no            resistance to brown rot or scab, the other common diseases            at Clarksville, Ark., were determined.        -   Insect resistance.—Insecticides were applied to orchards            used in the development of the instant cultivar to control            the common insects at the location including oriental fruit            moth, plum curculio, stinkbug, tarnished plant bug, lesser            peach tree borer, and greater peach tree borer. Therefore no            insect resistance was determined in the testing of the            instant cultivar.-   Foliage/shoots/branches:    -   -   Shoots.—Smooth. Dormant-season shoot (branch): length 61.4            cm; diameter at base 0.7 cm; diameter at midpoint 0.5 cm;            diameter at terminal 0.3 cm. Dormant-season shoot color            Greyed-Purple Group (183A).        -   Leaves.—Simple, alternate, glabrous, lanceolate, petiolate,            and deciduous. Venation pinnate; base acute; terminal or            apex acuminate; margin serrated. Mature leaf size: length            15.4 cm; width midpoint 3.4 cm. Leaf serrations 4.3/cm.            Mature leaf color: abaxial — Green Group (139B); adaxial —            Green Group (139A). Young leaf color: abaxial — Yellow-Green            Group (146C); adaxial — Yellow-Green Group (144A);            anthocyanin not present on abaxial or adaxial side of young            leaves on midrib or other location. Petiole diameter —            mature leaf: 1.2 mm (average from five leaves). Petiole            length — mature leaf: 1.0 cm. Leaf glands: reniform, average            of 3 per leaf, located at base of leaf blade at top of            petiole. Leaf glands are 0.07 cm in width and 0.11 cm in            length.        -   Buds.—Number of leaf buds per 15 cm: 12, evenly distributed            along the shoot. Number of flower buds per 0-15 cm from            terminal: 16.2. Flower bud shape: rounded. Mature shoot            internode length: base 1.8 cm, midpoint 1.6 cm, terminal 0.5            cm.-   Bark (of mature trunk of tree):    -   -   Color.—Greyed-Green Group (198D).        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Trunk:    -   -   Diameter.—12.9 cm (at 25 cm above ground level).-   Flower buds: Dormant flower bud length 0.5 cm and diameter 0.2 cm    and color Greyed-Green Group (197D); dormant buds swell and expand    in late winter and increase in size during this expansion to fully    open flowers.-   Flowers: Bloom occurs prior to vegetative bud break; solitary to    occasional double individual flowers at a single node; perfect;    self-fertile. Flower depth: 21.7 mm (average of five measurements.    Both male and female organs in each flower.    -   -   Date of bloom.—First, Julian 80 (March 20); Full, Julian 83            (March 23), one day after ‘Loring’.        -   Size.—Diameter fully open 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Bowl shaped.        -   Type.—Showy.        -   Density of flowers.—16.2 flowers/8.5 inches (average of five            measurements).        -   Color.—Adaxial: Red Purple Group (62D); abaxial: Red-Purple            Group (62B).        -   Petals per flower.—5.8.        -   Petal dimensions.—Length 18.6 mm; width 16.3 mm.        -   Petal shape.—Apex-rounded, margin — entire (smooth), base —            cuneate, overall — elliptic (round).        -   Petal texture.—Texture smooth both adaxial and abaxial            surfaces — no pubescence.        -   Length of pistil.—1.7 cm. Pistils per flower — 1 (average of            five measurements).        -   Pistil color.—Grayed green group 195D.        -   Stamens.—Average 46.2/flower with pollen present, fertile            and abundant. Stamen position relative to flower petals —            Stamens are erect while petals have a more gradual upward            orientation.        -   Sepals.—Number per flower — 6 (average of five). Shape            overall — ovate (non-fused), oblanceolate (fused). Length —            4.5 mm; Width — 3.9 mm. Apex — rounded. Texture — moderate            pubescence on both sides. Base — cuneate. Margin — entire            (smooth). Color — Upper (adaxial) — grayed purple group            185-B — Lower (abaxial) — red purple 60-A.        -   Pollen.—Grayed orange group 165B.        -   Ovary.—Pubescent. Color — grayed green group 195C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Medium, avg. 183 g; diameter stem end 4.9 cm, equator            7.2 cm, blossom end 4.2 cm; length base to apex 6.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Round, symmetrical with no tip.        -   Skin.—Lightly pubescent (fuzzy), attractive; ground color            Yellow-Orange Group (21B), with red blush (Red Group 46A)            covering about 90% of surface on average.        -   Flesh.—Color Yellow-Orange Group (20A); freestone; melting            texture, but very firm until fully ripe, “slow-melting”.            Firmness when measured by a fruit pressure tester (using a            McCormick model FT327 fruit pressure tester, 11 mm diameter            probe) on unpeeled fruit had average firmness value of 2.8            kg. Excellent eating quality; flavor sweet, and low acid.        -   Pedicel length.—1.1 cm.        -   Pedicel diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Pedicel color.—Yellow-Green Group (144C).        -   Ripe date.—July 6 (‘Julian 188’) in west-central Arkansas;            ‘Loring’ cultivar ripens 14 days later. Ripening of            individual fruit is uniform.        -   Tendency of pit to split.—No split pits most years.        -   Soluble solids.—15.3%.        -   Fruit juice pH.—4.5; standard-acid cultivar ‘Redhaven’ 3.5.        -   Fruit juice titratable acidity.—0.24% expressed as malic            acid; standard-acid cultivar ‘Redhaven’ 0.70%.        -   Storage performance.—Overall ranking for 0-3 weeks of            storage for ‘Souvenirs’ was 3.7, the same as ‘White County’            and higher than ‘Loring’ (2.3) on a 5-point scale with 5            being exceptional storage. Notably, after three weeks of            storage, ‘Souvenirs’ developed negligible mealiness (dry,            gel texture) and maintained a high level of juiciness. When            compared to the standard-melting peach cultivar ‘Loring,’            ‘Souvenirs’ fruit were substantially superior after 3 weeks            of storage in terms of skin and flesh quality.-   Pit/stone:    -   -   Size.—Length 3.3 cm; diameter (midpoint) 1.64 cm.        -   Shape.—Slightly oblong with deep furrowing and pitting.        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange Group (176A).-   Kernel:    -   -   Size.—Length 1.6 cm; diameter varies with dryness of the            kernel but is up to 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Almond.        -   Color.—Yellow Group (12C).-   Uses: Fresh consumption, not evaluated for drying or other uses.    The Cultivar

The most distinctive features of the new cultivar are very firm fruitwith slow-melting yellow flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium size,attractive appearance, high red skin color, excellent fruit quality,good flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of peach tree named ‘Souvenirs,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.